Aerial vehicle.



0 A. REX. AERIAL "VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED-APR.26, 1910.

' Patnted Jan. 2, 1912,

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AERIAL VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1910,

atented Jan. 2, 1912.

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' Patented J an. 2, 1912..

15 SHEETS-SHEET (i ATTOH/VE V5 0. A. REX. AERIAL VEHICLE.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1910 l ,01 8,2 1 9. Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

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AERIAL VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED AFR.26, 1910 J Patenned Jan. 2, 1912.

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Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 10 ATTORNEKS.

G. A. REX. AERIAL VEHICLE.

I I I APPLICATION FILED 11.26, 1910. 1,01 3,21 9. Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

15 SHBETS-SEEBT 11.

' ATTORNEYJ c. A. REX. AERIAL VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED APR, 26, 1910.

Patented Jan.2, 1912.

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AERIAL VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1910.

Patenfied Jan.2,1912.

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0. A. REX.

AERIAL VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1910.

Patented. Jan. 2, 1912.

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' Ill/VENTOR 0. A. REX.

AERIAL VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED APR.26, 1910.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 15.

W/ TNESSE 8 ATM/M575.

UNITED strA'r s PATENT OFFICE.

oLEvELAnn A. REX, or AMARILLO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOB 'ro THE nnx AERIAL 11 v:-ammo AND cons rmrcrxon commmr on NEW JERSEY. or rnomux, ARIZONArmmrromr, A conromrron or ARIZONA rnnmronr.

AERIAL VEHICLE.

Patented Jan. 2,1912.

Application filed April 26, 1910. Serial 110 557353.

To (17! 'H'lwm if may concern Be it known that l, (aacvraamo A. Rex,citizenof the United States, residing at Amarillo, in the county ofPotter and State of 'lexas, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Aerial Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has relation to mechanism for imparting an upwardly andforwardly for adjusting the wings to meet varying air currents andvarious other novel features of construction and arrangement \vhichwillhe. hereimtfter pointed out.

\Vith the. above and other objects in View the invention has relation tocertain features of construction and operation, an example of which isdescribed in the following speceitieation and"in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1. is a side elevation, details omitted, showing the wings fullyextended in extreme upward position and ready tohegin down stroke, theentire stroke of the \\-'ings being indicated in dotted lines, while thetail is shown in full lines in its normal horizontal position, dottedlines indicating the. twisted position of the tail and its verticalmovement, Fig. 2. is a plan view with the wings fully extended and intheir extreme forward position, dotted lines indicating the path oftheir stroke in plan, details omitted, Fig. 2). is a front elevationwith the wings fully extended and in the same )osition as shown in Fig.2, dotted lines indicating the vertical path of the wings .andinclination from a horizontal plane up and down, while other dottedlines indicate the positions and path of movement of the tail, Fig. 4.is a plan view with the wings at. their central position, Fig. 5.. is

the same as Fig. 3 except that the wings are folded or retracted and areat their extreme rearward position, Fig. (3. is a plan view with theparts in the osition shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 7. is a longitudinal verticalsectional view, Fig. 8. is a horizontal cross-sectional view, portionsofthe wings being omitted and the remaining portions of the wings andoperating means being shown in full lines to indicate their positionwhen the wings are unfolded, while in dotted lines, their position whenthe wings are folded,

is shown, Fig. 9. is a transverse vertical sectional view on the lineS-D of Fig. 7, the wings having portions omitted and shown in twopositions, as in Fig. 8, Fig. 10. is a horizontal section of one of the.rocker mechanisms and adacent parts, Fig. 11. IS a detail in elevatlonof the parts shown in Fig. 10, Fig. 12. is a detail in elevation of therocker, Fig. 13. is a plan of the same, Fig. 14. is a side elevation ofone of the. wings folded, Fig. 15. is a similar view with the wingunfolded, Fig. 16. is a plan of one of the wings fully unfolded, Fig.17. is a plan view of one of the wings folded and the planes and bandsomitted, Fig. 18.

is a similar view of the wing unfolded, Fig.

19. is a plan view with the wing folded, Fig. 20. is a detail in sectionof one of the plane supporting yokes and component parts, Fig. 21. is asimilar View at right angles, Fig. 22. is a detailed elevation of one ofthe planes of section A, its supports and adjacent parts, Fig. 23. is asimilar view of one of the planes of wing section B, Fig. 24. is anotherdetail of one of the planes of wing section A, Fig. 25. is a detail ofthe link 78, Fig. 26. is a detail in plan of the lever 74, Fig. 27.is adetail in vertical section of the joint between two of the wingsections, Fig. 28. is a plan view of the same, Fig. 29. is a detail insection of one of the rod connections between the spars of section C ofthe wing, Fig. 30. is

detail in elevation of one of the oot levers,

ous mechanisms in groups and to explain.

the operation and .construction of each the sides of the car are brouggroup separately.

In the'drawings the numeral 1 designates an elliptical bo ysubstantially pointed at each end. This composed of properly s acedlongitudinal bands 2 and circumferential ribs 3 intersecting with andsuitably fastened to the bands.

At the forward end the bands conver e to 1 acommon point of intersectioncoincldent with the central longitudinal axis ofthe body and at w'vh'ichpoint they are suitably fastened together. At the rear end of the bodythe bands-terminate in a bearing ring 4 as is shown in Figs. 7 and 8.This frame is suitably covered to present a substantially sm'oothexterior surface, but in some of the figures the covering is omitted.

From the under central portion of the body a car or cage 5 is suitablyhung. This car may be of any suitable construction and is secured to thebody by suitable means. At its forward end as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 ttogether and meet on a vertical line of intersection at the center,which construction offers little resistance to the forward movement ofl: the car. The car is provided with suitable windows ti by which theoperator may enter or leave the car and through which he may observe hiscourse.

- v he essential groups of mechanism constishown in full and dottedllnes.

' 7, 8 and 9. At its forward end the beam is the vehicle are the bed andcar, the le win s, mechanisms or o crating, adjustin an manipulating thewings, the tail, an the means for operating and manipulating the tail.

In Figs. 1 to 6 inclusiye the various positions assumed by the win s andtail are In these figures details havebcen omitted for the sake ofrlcarness, the figures being shown more to illustrate the positions ofthe wings and tutin movai 1 tail than to show construction,

Extending longitudinally of the center of the body is a main beam 7 asshown in Figs.

suitably secured in a bracket 8 fastened to ,the frame, while its rearend terminates some distance from the rear end of the body and isrigidly supported by radial braces 9 secured at their outer ends to theframe of the body. At the center of the body the beam 7 is depressed asbest shown in Fig. 7 to form a seat for 'a clam box 10 securely fastenedon the beam and rigidly holding against rotation, a horizontaltransverse On each side of the box 10,

main shaft 11 36. isv a detail of'the- ,main shaft- 11.

body comprlses a framesleeves 12 are mounted to revolve on the These"sleeves terminate a short distance from the ends of the shaft androtate in bearing boxes 13 fixed on curved suspension beams 14 underhungon each side of the thereto at their ends. On each side of the clamp box10 sprocket wheels 15 are fixed on the ends of the sleeves and bearagainst the inner ends of the bearing boxes. Motion is imparted to thesprockets 15 "by sprocket chains 16 runningovcr sprocket wheels 16]fixed on a transverse shaft 1.62 hung in brackets 163 suspended in'thecar 5 from the body, 1. as shown best in Fig. 9.

car on the floor thereof.

circular housing 17 is secured in the frame of the body as is best shownin Figs. 7, 8 and 9. This housing is formed on each side with a'ninwardly extending wall 18 in radial relation to the main shaft. Theinner edge of each wall 18 is provided with-a track 15), the 'rear halfof whichis in the form of an arc of a circle concentric to the shaft ll;while the. forward half 20 of the track is shaped in the form of anangle diverging from the longitudinal center of the bodyfthe sides ofwhich merge at their ends into the circular portion of the track, acontinuous cam track It) thus being provided on each-wall.

On each end of the main shaft:- 11, a cam plate. 21 is fixed againstrotation. plates are projected inwardlyso that each has on its edge acam track 22 conforming to, and in vertical alinement with the trac 19.It is to be mulerstoml that the tracks 19 surround the tracks 22 withsuflicient space between each track 22 and'the adjacent track 19 for thetravel of a wing operating shoe hereinafter described.

In concentric relation to the shaftll a These y Beyond each box 13, aninwardlyhent arm 23 is fixed on the end of the rotating sleeve 12. Thesearms are directly opposite and extendto withina short distance of theouter wall of tho housing 17 within which they are revolved in unison.As shown in Fig. 7, each armhas an elongated socket slot 24 at its outerend adapted. to retain gndcontine to a limited movement radially withrelationto the main shaft, a ball 25 through the center of which theinner end of a wing shaft 26 is free to slide. It is "obvious that-eachball 25 is free to revolve on the shaft and in the slot, but the latterbeing in the form of a socket holds by its curved walls, the ballagainst displacement. Each wing shaftalso passes loosely through a ball27 confined within a socketshce 28.

The shoe 28 is fitted between the tracks 19 and 22 on each side of thebod This shoe is in the form of a grooved rol er having its flangesoverhanging the sides of the tracks and revolving around the ball 27 InFigs. 10, 11, 12 and 13a win sup orting and rocking mechanism anddetal 5redating to the same are shown. As the mechanism of one side of. thevehicle is duplicated on 'the other, a description of one will'suflicefor both. At the transverse center of the I'side'ofthe'body an openingis provided in whichis secured a vertical frame 29. ,This

frame is curved outwardly to its horizontal central portion, but at adifferent are to that. y of the body. On the outerside of the frame andat the center of the ends, bearin'g boxes I 30 and 31 are dis osed. Theframe is formed with a channel t rough the bottom of which a centralpivot stem 32' passes from the forward box 30. This stem is suitablyfastened in position, while ball bearings 33 (Fig. 10) are disposed inthe channel to receive the under side of the box 30. By this arrangementthe box 30 and parts attached thereto may be swung vertically with thestem as. a transverse pivot point. The bearing box 31 is fixed 011 acurved adjusting shoe 34 adapted to be swung in the arc of a circlehaving its center in the pivot stem 32. \Vithin the frame 29 a rocker issuspended. This rocker comprises a central block 35 having its normaltransverse and longitudinal axes intersecting on the longitudinal axisof the main shaft 11. In other words the normal center of the block 35is coincident with the center of the circle in which the arm 23 isrevolved.

. Of course when the rocker and 'block are swung by adjusting the shoe34, the center of the block becomes eccentric to the circle ofrevolution. The wing shaft 26 issplit into twomembers which pass throughthe 'block 35 and are suitably fastened against,

movement therein. These members extend some distance from the body andare braced together by webs 36 which adds rigidity and strength to thewingshaft. The wing shaft also comprises jointed parts which will bedescribed.

It is obvious that as the arm 23 is revolved the wing shaft is swung,its inner and outer ends traveling in an orbit determined by the pathbetween the tracks 19'and 22, the block 35' constituting the pivot andsupporting point.v In order to afford the block a substantiallyuniversal swing it is supported 'byarms 36 extending from opposite sidesand transversely of the block. These arms converge toward each other andare secured at their outer ends about collars 37. These collars bearagainstsimilar collars 38 supported in a diamond shaped rocker frame 39.The contacting collars 37 and 38 at each end are connected by shortflanged pins 40. These pins extend vertically with relation to the'frame39 and-gems the block as shafts 42 connect each pair of boxes and formhorizontal pivots, on which the rocker frame may swmg in a vertical arc.

By referring to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive it is obvious that a motionsimilar to' that of a birds wing is imparted to the wing of thisvehicle. This motion of course is determined by the contour of thetracks 19 and- 22. When the shoe, 28 is traveling in the rear half oflts path between the tracks, the wing will be pursuing the forward halfof its swing. This movement of the shoe is from the lowest )oint to thehighest point of travel in the all are of a semi-circle during whichmovement the wing is fully extended and moves from the highest point tothe lowest point. When the tip of the wing reaches its lowermostposition the shoe 28 will be at its highest point and just about. toenter between the angular portions of the tracks. Continuing the wingmoves rearward and upward and the shoe forward and dowrfward for aquarter of a revolution until the shoe reaches the forward horizontalcenter of the swing. During this movement the wing is retracted, that isits planes are drawn inward and together'by a mechanism presently to bedescribed. movementpf'the shoe and wing during this quarter of arevolution being at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees to thelongitudinal axis of the bod the wing will move upward and rearward in astraight line and gradually fold 0r retract in a straight line whichoffers .but little resistance to the air' and the forward movement ofthe' entire vehicle. On the next quarter movement the shoe and wingtravel at an angle of forty-five degrees to the longitudinal axis of thebody, but toward the vertical central line of the uides instead of-awayfrom it as durin t e preceding quarter, the wing .being gra uallyextended until it reaches its'limit at the highest pointof travel readyfor the next forward swing. I claim that during this last quarter of arevolution of the wing, there is substantially no atmospheric pressureagainst the lanes of the wing as the edges of said p anes are presentedand can offer but. little resistance to a forward and upward movement.On the other hand the wing being gradually extended tends to exert alifting and sustaining power and a forward drive which, with the liftingand forward impulse of the down swing of thewing, propels the vehicleforward during three-quarters of the revolution or path of travel of thewing. Suflicient experiments and established facts have demonstratedthis claim.

I Figs. 15-to 28 inclusive the wing and deta'ls of the same are shown.Referring to Figs. 16, 17', 18 and 19 the wing will be found to comprisethree sections A, B and C respectively. These sections are joinedtogether similar to the wing of a bird and by means of these joints thewings are extended and retracted or folded and unfolded. On

a the sections of these wings planes are suitin unison.

ably supported to swing each on a vertical fixed axis passing throughthe wing shaft and its members hereinafter described. Suitable meanshereinafter described are provided for automatically folding andunfolding the wings and swinging the planes It is to be understood thatthe wing is essentially. a plane but is composed of a plurality ofplanes, that is, it is a main plane comprising a number of ,individualplanes.

A folded wing lying in a horizontal plane at a central point of a bodyand unfolding through the tracing of 'an almost straight path at .anangle forward from said central position to an extreme upward positionduring which passage it is entirely unfolded and then inscribing a fullhalf revolution forward from the extreme upward to an ex tremc downwardposition, will have a lifting power during three-quarters of therevolotion, and a folding movement during the remaining quarter whichoffers no resistance to the air, or at least very little resistance. Byhaving a lifting power during three-quarters of the revolution, andpractically no upward resistance during the re-. maining quarter, whilethe wing is gaining an upward movement to arrive at its central rearmostposition, an apparatus of great lifting" power is produced.

While the wing is being moved downward and on account of the main wingshaft havthe judgment of the operator.

When the wing is at its extreme upward position'andbegins its downwardpath, on account of the location of. the main wing shaft with relationto the planes, the wing performs a double function, namely it exerts anupward lift, and by the inclination of the planes and the downwardpressure of the wing shaft, a purchase is gained which forces forward,'the body to which the wing is attached. On account of there beingsubstantially no resisting pressure to the movement of the wing planefrom its lowermost to its rearmost central position, it is held by themechanism described in a plane substantially coincident with the planeof its movement which is at substantially an angle of fortyfive degrees.During this last movementthe inclination of the individual'planes issimilar to that of their downward movement but not to as great a degree.This is apparent because the tendency of the body is to fall.

The section B is joined to the. section A by a joint as best shown inFigs. 27 and 28-. Section B comprises a wing shaft link portion 43 whichis a continuation of the two members of the wing shaft and each of whichhas a rounded tongue 44 at its end adapted to enter,a correspondinglyshaped socket. 45 on the end of each member of the main wing shaftportion of the section A. A vertical pivot pin 46 passes through bothtongues and sockets and will be hereinafter more fully described.Between the sections B and C a like joint is formed at the intersectionof the link 43 and the wing arm' portion 47. In this arm the wing shaftagain becomes a single piece, the members being gradually mergedtogether. As best shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the arm 47 is bent down atrightangles and again bent to form a rearwardly extending wing tipportion 48 which is bent in a horizontal plane at an obtuse angle to thearm as best shown .in Figs. 16 to 19 inclusive. The portion 48 lies insubstantially the same horizontal plane as a plurality of transverse andtapered tubular spars 4:9 pivoted .to and hung from the wing shaft, itslink and arm.- These spars which .are suitably spaced have thegreaterportion of their length toone side of the wing shaft whichis therear side with relation to the forward movement of both the wing and thebody.

Details of the spar .supporting means are .best shown in Figs. 20 to 24inclusive al- .though these parts are also shown in other 50 spanningover it from end to end and suitably secured thereto. The band is drawntaut and firmly binds on to yoke 51 to which it is also astened. Thisyoke is fastened at its lower. end to the spar half of the spar as isshown in Fig..20. A screw threaded boss 52 is provided on the lower endof the yoke and receives a vertia jamnut 54 binding on the oss. Thescrew at its upper end has a ball socket receiving a ball 55 which inturn supports a socket bearing 56 formed on the lowermost member of thewing shaft. A similar bearing socket 57 is formed onthe top side of theupper member of the wing shaft and reof a vertical eeive a similar ball58 engaging in a socket.

figures. Each spar has'a longitudinal band 4 and is rounded to firmlyreceive the upper cal adjusting screw 53 locked in osition by but is notconnected thereto.

boss 59 formed on the upper end of the yoke. These parts are in verticalalinement and by' adjusting the screw 53 said parts are tied together,but at the same time permit the 5 ,ar to swing in a horizontal plane onthe mug shaft. Each spar is supported in this way.

It is apparent that some means for calls-- ing the wings to fold and.unfold as well as means for swinging the spars in unison must beprovided and this will be presently described. At this point I desire tocall attention to the long narrow planes 60 carried by the sparslongitudinally thereof. Each spar and the tip portion 48 carries aplane. Each plane consists of a wire frame 61 suitably braced'andcovered on its underside with a suitable fabric. Each plane frameis-fixed to the underside of its spar near its longitudinal outer edgeand they longitudinal edges of the planes overlap at folding andunfolding the wing comprises a pitman 62- extending from operating meansin the body and hereinafter described.

The pitman extends parallel with the main wing shaft along the firstsection and is bent inward at its outer endtoward the shaft and at whichpoint it has pivoted connection with a hinge block 63 secured to thelink portion 43 just beyond the first joint. On the opposite side of theshaft as shown in Figs. '16 to 19 inclusive and also in Fig. 28, a hingeblock 64 is secured to the first Wing section shaft members. A secondpitman 65 is pivoted at one end to the block '64 and extends along thelink members 43 This pitman 65 is also bent inward toward the wing shaftat its outer end and has pivotal connection with a hinge block 66 fixedon the inner end of the arm 47 near its joint. These pitmen act to foldand unfold the jointed portions of the wing'shaft.

Referring to Figs. 16 and 18 it will be seen that by moving the pitman62 outward, the link portion 43 will be swung inward and forward withrelation to the travel of the vehicle as shown in Figs. 6, 17 and 19.This movement being transmitted by the pitman 65 swings the section C orarm 47 inward-but rearward, the folding of the wing being complete. Thewing is of course unfolded bymoving the pitman 62 inward.

The yokes 51 are placed on all the spars and each one is substantiallythe same as the others. At the joint-s'between the sections A and B andB and C, the pivot pin 46 at each joint passes from the bearing socket-'57 down throughboth tongues 44 same.

andboth sockets 45 to the bearing socket 56 and is suitably fastened inplace.

The means for swinging the spars in unison with their respectivesections comprises special constructions for each section. The yokes 51of the section A are each provided with a lateral arm 67 a shortdistancefrom their lower ends'and on the side opposite to the wingshaft. Attheir outer ends, the arms 67 are pivotally connected, each to a lug 68fixed on the side of a connecting rod 69. As shown in Figs. 17, 18 "and24, one of the yokes 51 about midway of the section has a rigid leverarm 70 above the arm 67 extending at an angle toward the .inner end of aplunger rod 71 underlying the pitman 62 and having connection at itsinner end with the same operating means. A flanged stud 72 extendingfrom the underside of the lever arm -70 is confined to slide in the slot73 (Fig. 26) of a lever 74 fixed on the rod 69 and curved upward fromthe By this arrangement, when the sections are folded and the pitman62vmoved outward the plunger rod" 71 is also moved outward and theplanes swung by the spars until they are substantiall parallel with thelongitudinal center of the body 1, the slot 73 permitting the rod 69 tomove toward the main wing shaft.

The yokes 51 of the section B have no lateral arms as shown in Fig. 21,except one as shown in Fig. 23. In this last case the yoke is placed onthe opposite side of the link members 43 and has a lateral arm 75 havingpivoted connection at its free end with the forward end of a plungerlying below the pitman 65 but having no connection therewith. At itsopposite or. inner end the plunger 76 has pivoted connection with thehinge block 64.

At its free or forward end the plunger has a lug 77. rigid therewith andextending to one side. This lug has pivotal connection (Fig. 23) withthe upper forward end of a link 78, bent outward and downward andhavingpivoted connection at its lower end with an inwardly and upwardlycurved lever 79 fixed on top of a collar 80 embracing a connecting rod81. One of these collars 80 embraces the rod 81 over each spar of thesection B, but only one collar has the lever 79. All of the collarshowever are each piv oted at one side to a bracket 82 fixed on theunderlying spar. It is apparent that this construction will cause theplanes of the section B to swing in unison. However it is to be observedthat some of the spars of the section B are a greater distance apartthan its 1

